Authorities suspect a Kenner housekeeper was cleaning out her clients while she cleaned up their homes. Rebecca Diaz, 31, was booked Feb. 27 with theft and possession of stolen property, according to Sgt. Brian McGregor, spokesman for Kenner Police.

Detectives believe Diaz stole jewelry from homes she was hired to clean, then sold the property to local precious metal dealers. Police h atve identified and recovered jewelry stolen from at least one victim in LaPlace.

But McGregor suspects there could be many other victims. "There was a large amount of jewelry recovered from pawn shops and her home," he said.

Diaz worked as a housekeeper through her business, Ideal Maids, which was based out of her house at 3544 W. Loyola Drive in Kenner, McGregor said. She cleaned homes in New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner and the River Parishes.

Kenner detectives were working a different theft case involving Diaz as a suspect and discovered that she had pawned some jewelry with the inscribed initials of a victim, McGregor said. Investigators tracked down the victim in LaPlace.

"We found out (Diaz) was cleaning the house in St. John," he said. "The victim realized her property was missing, but she didn't realize her cleaning lady had taken it and pawned it."

Detectives say Diaz took $1,600 worth of jewelry from the LaPlace residence and sold it to Top Dollar Gold Buyers, 2537 Williams Blvd., Kenner. Owner Brian Evans said his store is cooperating with the investigation.

Diaz sold several pieces of jewelry to the store between Nov. 2 and Feb. 8, according to arrest reports and records provided to investigators. Under state law, precious metal dealers are required to keep jewelry for at least 30 days before it can be resold or melted.

Evans said the business turned over to authorities all of the remaining pieces of jewelry Diaz sold. Police booked Diaz with theft in connection with the $415 that Top Dollar Gold Buyers paid Diaz for the stolen jewelry that was positively identified by the LaPlace victim, the arrest report said.

Diaz was booked at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. She was released Feb. 27 on a $4,000 bond. Diaz has convictions for shoplifting and possession of Adderall, possession of the sleep medication Zolpidem and possession of the muscle relaxant Carisoprodal, according to Jefferson Parish court records.

Authorities are now working to determine what, if any, of the other jewelry was stolen and from whom. "We firmly believe there are other victims out there," McGregor said.

Anyone who believes they are a victim theft in connection with the case is asked to contact Kenner Police Detective Trey Hille by calling 504.712.2213.